Scenic Vietnam

15 Days | Discover the many sides of Vietnam – from the quiet hills of the Da Bac region to the dynamic streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

5 out of 5 based on 118 reviews submitted.
Explorer
From
USD $1,515
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Journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on an incredible two-week adventure in Vietnam. Discover the stately capital Hanoi, the lush hills of the Da Bac region, the stunning limestone scenery of Cat Ba Island, the majesty of historic Hue, the fairytale atmosphere of Hoi An, the glorious waterways of the Mekong Delta and the dynamic streets of Ho Chi Minh City. Explore not only the main highlights of the cities, but also the remote countryside, well away from the tourist crowds. A homestay in Sung Village, nestled in the forest among caves and tea plantations, is a chance to trek through minority villages and experience Vietnam at its sleepy best.

Trip overview

Map of Scenic Vietnam including Vietnam
Start
Hanoi, Vietnam
Finish
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
Vietnam
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
TVSR
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Experience local life during homestays in the Mekong Delta and Da Bac. Get to know local families, participate in their activities and enjoy a homestyle meal.
  • Cruise a sea of limestone karsts, blue-green waters, mysterious caves and ancient jungle on an unforgettable Cat Ba Island boat trip
  • Get a different view of Vietnam from the back of a motorbike. Take a two-wheeled tour around Hue and enjoy a special lunch spot at a convent or Buddhist monastery for a delicious vegetarian feast.
  • Enjoy this leisurely-paced itinerary that allows for ample time in each location, with a great mix of included activities and free time to explore

Is this trip right for you?
  • You'll be spending two nights with local families on this trip. While the accommodation is shared and basic, this is a great opportunity to connect with the local people (and enjoy delicious home-cooked meals!). Read more about the experiences here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/community-based-tourism-vietnam/
  • This trip involves a 10-kilometre trek in the hills of Da Bac, as well as included city walking tours. While being on your feet can be a bit tiring, this is the best way to really get under the skin of a place.
  • We cover a lot of distance on this trip, including on overnight trains. Accommodation and amenities are shared and basic, but the experience of rubbing shoulders with the locals makes it all worthwhile. For more about what this experience is like, see our blog post here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight.
  • Vietnam has an incredibly diverse climate influenced by both tropical monsoons and its range of altitudes and latitudes. Temperatures can vary from a brisk 4°C (39°F) in the northern mountains during winter to a sweltering and humid 36°C (97°F) in Ho Chi Minh City during the middle of the dry season. Please check the weather for the time of year you're travelling in order to pack appropriate clothing.
  • You may also want to check out Vietnam & Cambodia Adventure (TVSLC) if you have longer time to explore in the region. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/vietnam/vietnam-cambodia-adventure-125488

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Map of Scenic Vietnam including Vietnam

Inclusions

Meals

13 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Boat, Overnight sleeper train, Private minibus, Taxi, Train, Motorbike

Accommodation

Guesthouse (1 night), Homestay (1 night), Hotel (11 nights), Overnight sleeper train (1 night)

Activities
  • Hanoi - Blue Dragon breakfast
  • Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex
  • Hanoi - Temple of Literature
  • Hanoi - Water puppet show
  • Da Bac - Homestay Dinner
  • Da Bac - Homestay Lunch
  • Da Bac - Sung Cave & Village Tour
  • Da Bac - Sung village to Da Bia hike
  • Da Bac - Da Bia Lunch
  • Cat Ba Island - Kayaking
  • Cat Ba Island - Boat trip on Lan Ha Bay
  • Cat Ba Island - Lan Ha Bay Lunch
  • Hue - Imperial City Full Day Tour
  • Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike
  • Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
  • Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
  • Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
  • Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
  • Mekong Delta - Boat Cruise and Homestay
  • Mekong Delta - Guesthouse Dinner
  • Mekong Delta - Boat Cruise Lunch
Add on activities
  • Hanoi - Fine Arts Museum - VND30000
  • Hoi An - My Son Cham tour (entrance fee, guide and transport included) - USD45
  • Hoi An - Boat & Bike with Sunset View & Home Cooked Dinner Experience - USD54
  • Hoi An - Food Adventure Urban Adventure - USD37
  • Hoi An - Hoi An Walking & Cooking Class Urban Adventure - USD55
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace - VND40000
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Cu Chi Tunnel Experience Urban Adventure - USD39
  • Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon Street Food by Night Urban Adventure - USD32

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement exclude Day 03 (Homestay), Day 06 (Sleeper Train) and Day 13 (Guesthouse) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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Reviews

5 out of 5 based on 118 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Austin · Traveled November 2023
I enjoyed learning about the history of Vietnam it's culture and nature. The entire experience was great and so was our guide Tuan.
Review submitted 20 Nov 2023

Fiona · Traveled November 2023
Intrepid are just fantastic! Our amazing tour guide Tuan was just the best guide ever. Thank you for enabling me to have the most amazing holiday with a wonderful group of people.
Review submitted 20 Nov 2023

Hayley · Traveled November 2023
Excellent tour! Itinerary was packed with beautiful locations, fun activities & comfortable stays. Could not have been happier with how my first trip to Vietnam went. Our guide, Tuan, was truly the icing on the cake and made the entire experience unforgettable! Would recommend. If you see this Tuan, Thank you so much!
Review submitted 20 Nov 2023

Cole · Traveled November 2023
This trip offered a great variety of fun, adventure, and learning activities. I feel that I received an in-depth Vietnam experience, and I am extremely satisfied with the level of organization and accommodations of the trip. I would highly recommend the Scenic Vietnam tour to everyone!
Review submitted 21 Nov 2023

James · Traveled October 2023
A great diversity of trip destinations. Got to see both big cities and small rural villages. A great overview for first time visitors to Vietnam.
Review submitted 11 Nov 2023
Scenic Vietnam
From
USD $1,515